I don’t think Dak Prescott’s biggest problem as a Cowboy is between the 20-yard lines. I know the Dak haters will say his problem is he folds under pressure. Well, this article isn’t about folding, that’s just an opinion.
We all know from social media that it’s much easier for fans to have the same conversation about Dak Prescott year in and year out. Well, I’m tired of that conversation.
When I looked at PFF’s QB Annual I didn’t see a player that fell apart when he had room to work, but that right there is the key to it all. He needs room to work.
When we get to his red zone numbers you will see what I’m talking about.
Dak Prescott Had Plenty Working For Him
I’m a numbers guy, and when you look at Dak’s numbers, most are top 5 in the NFL.
When Dak Prescott had a clean pocket, he posted a grade of 86.5, against the blitz 84.5, play action was 84.5, and shotgun was 85.9. That’s not a quarterback just grasping at straws trying to make throws, but a quarterback excelling.
His first-read grade was 86.7. In normal words, when the play worked the way it was supposed to, Dak was good. I want to see this because we don’t need every play turning into backyard football.
The receiving numbers back this up because Dak was at 90.4 when throwing to outside receivers and 88.6 throwing to slot receivers.
I love this. When Dak threw it to an actual receiver, he was able to spread the field with a high level of production. We don’t need Dak to turn into a magician every play and try to pull a play out of his hat.
The Red Zone Is the Problem
Here is where we would all watch the wheels fall off.
When I came across the red zone numbers, it made sense, but I didn’t realize just how bad they were.
Dak Prescott had a 51.1 red-zone grade, and against red-zone coverage, it dropped to 36.7. Those are numbers you do not want attached to your starting quarterback. Because they are drive killers.
We watched all last season as Dallas moved the ball up and down the field, chewing up yards, and getting everyone feeling good about the offense. But when the Cowboys settled for a field goal instead of a touchdown, that was deflating.
Does it all fall on Dak Prescott? No, but he’s the quarterback, so it will.
Throws to outside receivers and slot guys were money, throws to running backs weren’t good, and throws to tight ends close to the line were bad.
The field is already tight. Why does Dallas bunch everyone together to help the defense? It turned the passing game into a not so masterclass of short dump-offs and tight window junk.
I want to see them keep the spacing, use motion, and play-action. Give Dak some help by using the things that got you into the red zone in the first place.
The Tackles Were An Issue
I know, I know, this isn’t news, but we can’t put everything on Dak.
Tyler Guyton or whoever lined up at left tackle allowed 56 pressures. Terence Steele, on the other side, gave up 54 pressures. I don’t know if anyone can be comfortable with 110 pressures from the edges.
When both tackles are giving up that much heat, the offense is going to feel it. The timing is rushed, the routes get squeezed, and the red zone looks worse than it did.
Dallas Has to Quit Wasting What Still Works
I’m not saying Dak Prescott was perfect. We all saw the red zone grade that was ugly, but I’m not going to sit here and pretend the Cowboys have a quarterback who can’t function.
Put Dak in the shotgun, give him space, and let him get his first read and watch what happens. So many things back this up, whether it’s the play-action numbers or the high grades throwing to receivers.
If you get near the goal line, keep doing what works. Space it out and let Dak find the open guy. Don’t make the passing game smaller because the field is.
Between the 20-yard lines Dak is money.
The red zone is where the time needs to be taken in practice. Fix this, or we are going to have the same Dak Prescott argument next year.
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